All About Carbon Monoxide and How it can be Reused

Carbon Monoxide is a chemical compound made up of 2 elements which are carbon and oxygen. The proportion of each element is equal which means for every 1 part of carbon, it has an equal part of oxygen. Carbon Monoxide is formed through a lot of processes. One of the most common processes is through the burning of wood or coal or other substances that occur naturally. Vehicles and exhausts also contribute to the creation of this chemical through combustion engines, which means every day, there are a lot of people contributing to the creation of carbon monoxide. However, there are also other means of creating this chemical used by companies for production or by scientists in their laboratories. Carbon Monoxide is a chemical that is odorless, colorless, flammable and toxic. However, a lot of people still used this because of its commercial use.

Uses of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide, or CO as its abbreviation, is used by chemical companies in the creation of metals, other chemicals and gases for commercial use. Not only that, it can also be used as an agent for reducing metal refining. Some big companies even use these chemicals in meats to maintain its wholesomeness and to help as well in distributing these products to far places. Others even use this substance as meat coloring. Carbon monoxide is also used in some medicines. However, the use of this chemical in food and medicine is very limited since it can cause poisoning.

Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, once inhaled can cause nausea or a headache. Since this chemical is odorless and colorless, some people may sometimes not be aware that they are already inhaling this product. They may attribute their symptoms to other causes.

On the other hand, severe effects of inhalation may lead to vomiting and sometimes even death. That is why a lot of homes already have carbon monoxide detectors to warn them whenever there is too much of this chemical in the air. A little intake of CO is already bad for the health but too much of it can be fatal. Children and people with weak immune systems are the common targets of severe effects of carbon monoxide inhalation.

Houses that live in busy areas like in urban places where there are a lot of big companies nearby have higher chances of having too much carbon monoxide in the air. Big companies usually use combustion in creating their products which produces a lot of CO. Many of these companies have their manufacturing sites in far areas where there are lesser households. But if you live in a place near buildings that produce too much carbon dioxide daily, make sure that you look for ways to control and lessen the amount of CO chemical entering your home,

Careful Handling of CO

That is also why handling carbon monoxide requires a lot. They cannot easily be stored anywhere as there are special containers that are designed specifically to keep the chemical inside. The container is pressurized to ensure not one carbon monoxide can escape.

Handling CO also requires a lot of training and certification as it is not safe for someone without knowing about the chemical to handle it. Not anyone can simply store this kind of chemical anywhere. The same goes when it comes to transporting this chemical. It needs training and certification along with other legal documents before you can transport carbon monoxide from one place to another.

Carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide, everywhere

Nonetheless, although toxic, there are still a lot of CO in the surroundings. One cannot really escape from this chemical. People will keep on burning woods and coals for commercial use which means there will be more and more of this chemical in the air. Big companies will continue to use these chemicals for their products. And the more carbon monoxide there is, the more dangerous it will be for humankind. That is why instead of trying to reduce this, some people have thought of recycling it and putting it to good use.

Recycling of Carbon Monoxide

Scientists have already thought of ways on how they would be able to recycle carbon monoxide. This is of course through separating the chemical with other substances which may have been added to it. There are equipment and machines invented to separate the chemicals from other chemicals which is the first step in recycling CO.

A great way to reduce our emissions is to use our most powerful energy provider, the sun, to do our many daily living experiences, like cooking with a solar cooker!

Recycled Carbon monoxide can be put to good use. Some of them can be used again for commercial purposes as in metals, medicines, and food while others can be converted into energy. Not a lot of people know that Carbon monoxide, as studies have shown, can be converted back into fuel which can be used as a source of energy. In the meantime, they are researching on converting carbon dioxide into useful energy but studies show that carbon monoxide has better chances of being recycled back into fuel due to its chemical composition.

So far, there are not a lot of successful attempts to this idea but certainly, once this research is successfully done, there will be better ways to recycle carbon monoxides. This will also be very helpful to a lot of people since they will no longer worry too much from inhaling this toxic chemical.

Tips for Households

In the meantime, since regular households cannot recycle carbon monoxide, it is best for them to avoid this harmful element. Household owners can get a carbon monoxide detector which will tell you when there is too much CO in your place and when it is already dangerous for your health. With this at home, you will be more comfortable knowing that there will be something to alarm you when you are already inhaling too much carbon monoxide.

Recycled carbon monoxide can be put to multiple uses

If you think that there is already too much CO in your house, one of the best ways to remove carbon monoxide from your homes is through opening the windows and doors widely so that air can freely come and go. Also having a lot of plants will be of great help since plans take most of these chemicals.

Conclusion

Carbon monoxide has been very helpful in the commercial field since it can be used in so many products. However, it also has its downside for the human health. That is why people should be more careful in creating this product and in inhaling them. Too much of this will be bad for anyone. This is why ways on how to recycle CO is already created by scientists to help reduce its negative effects.

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the Founder of EcoMENA, and an international consultant, advisor, ecopreneur and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biomass energy, biogas, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. He has participated in numerous conferences and workshops as chairman, session chair, keynote speaker and panelist.
Salman is the Editor-in-Chief of EcoMENA, and is a professional environmental writer with more than 300 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com

Subscribe to our Knowledge Bank

Recommended Reading

The use of asbestos has been a widespread issue that continues to impact countries on a global scale. As a favored material used in buildings and construction projects throughout the 20th century, asbestos held an incredible appeal as a mineral known for its heat and fire resistant properties. For decades, this substance was synonymous with manufacturing and development. However, it was soon discovered that once asbestos was disturbed or damaged, the fibrous material could have a fatal effect on those that came into contact with it. Asbestos in the United States Despite its known dangers, asbestos continues to pose a … Continue reading →

Like this:

Drinking dirty or contaminated water causes numerous health problems, all of which one should be aware of. The contamination of water sources can start from the main water sources such as city water supplies, rivers, streams, and lakes, or well water supplies. Moreover, the main water source such as groundwater might get contaminated from toxic chemicals found underground, such as fluoride or arsenic, if the water is not filtered properly. Furthermore, contamination can occur from something as dangerous as a badly designed hazardous waste site or industrial site, exposing the water to numerous dangerous chemicals. As previously mentioned, contaminated water … Continue reading →

Like this:

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is known for being one of the hottest places on Earth, and highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. In an IPCC special report on regional climate change, models projected that average temperatures in the region will increase by 1-2˚C by 2030-2050. Decision makers and citizens in all 21 countries realize that they are faced with an immediate need to reshape energy, agriculture, water and environmental policy to adapt to changing climate conditions. Steep Rise in Temperature Satellite data provided by Climate Engine from 1979 to present shows the mean max (average maximum) temperatures … Continue reading →

Professional Groups

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.